British Comedy Guide

BCG Daily Thursday 20th March 2014

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W1A - TV review

More sitcom than satire: the BBC proves a bit of a struggle for Twenty Twelve's Olympic Deliverance man.

John Crace, The Guardian, 20th March 2014

W1A, BBC Two, review

On the evidence of this opener, W1A doesn't have the charm of its predecessor Twenty Twelve.

Michael Hogan, The Telegraph, 20th March 2014

W1A walks fine line but it is lovingly done

From John Morton, the writer who brought us Twenty Twelve, comes W1A, in which Hugh Bonneville reprises his role as Ian Fletcher, now the new Head of Values at the BBC, tasked with thinking big thoughts and finding a 'Way Ahead' for the corporation.

Tim Liew, Metro, 20th March 2014

W1A wins largely positive response, but not from all

Twenty Twelve sequel W1A appears to have gone down well with fans of the original - although there were some less enthusiastic voices among the acclaim as the debut episode aired.

Caroline Westbrook, Metro, 20th March 2014

Jessica Hynes is strangely silenced in new mockumentary

I wouldn't say W1A is a disaster; it suffers from having to follow Twenty Twelve and other BBC series - in particular The Office even a decade on, and The Thick of It.

Sean O'Grady, The Independent, 20th March 2014

'W1A' episode 1 review

Never mind Downton, Ian Fletcher is Hugh Bonneville's finest hour, a sweet Everyman, full of aspiration about getting to the end of the day in one piece, but tragically confounded by such things as lack of desk, a corporation too big and a bike too small.

Caroline Frost, The Huffington Post, 20th March 2014

Radio Times review

During the 1980s, you hadn't truly made it until you'd been immortalised in latex by the Spitting Image team. A complete one-off, the show's grotesque netherworld of freakish caricatures connected young people with politics like nothing before or since. Nobody was more savagely satirised than the Thatcher cabinet, but when that enemy was no longer a threat, the show's appeal gradually waned.

In this deadpan Arena film, its creators and contributors chronicle the series, from the embryonic commissioning stage to its decline in popularity during the 90s. At its peak, Spitting Image was getting 15 million viewers but, "If we did it [now]," says co-creator Roger Law, "we'd be a cult thing, probably on the net". And you can't help thinking he's right. They'd never get away with such vicious satire on TV today.

Gary Rose, Radio Times, 20th March 2014

Radio Times review

This domestic sitcom from Dublin comedy troupe Diet of Worms and Graham Linehan really hits its stride tonight, as meek, unassuming Graham (the excellent Shane Langan) is evicted from his bedsit in a hilariously absurd opening scene.

His only option is to fall upon the mercy of the Walshes, who hardly welcome their daughter's boyfriend with open arms. Tony (Niall Gaffney) tries desperately to prove he's as learned as the bookish Graham, while Carmel (Philippa Dunne) fixes a smile and insists "it's fine" that Ciara (Amy Stephenson) is sharing her bed with a man.

The set-up is standard but the finely crafted execution raises the comedy to great heights.

Radio Times, 20th March 2014

Radio Times review

Inspired by the Old Jews Telling Jokes franchise, this no-frills parade of gags has so far delighted us with the amateur stylings of various vicars, Scousers and boffins. Now it's the turn of some football managers, in this one-off edition for Sport Relief.

Framed against a plain background, they rattle through their repertoires of zingers and groaners as the production crew laugh spontaneously off-camera. Some of them seem slightly self-conscious, but that merely adds to the charm.

Highlights include former West Ham manager Alan Curbishley's quick-fire pun about a sleepwalking nun, and a shaggy dog story from Luton Town's John Still that suggests he won't be invited to Buckingham Palace any time soon.

Paul Whitelaw, Radio Times, 20th March 2014

That's Fife ... and that's top comedy!

Radio presenter Grant Stott created a hit with his musical parody That's Fife, now he's set to host a comedy show of the same title.

Fiona Dobie, Fife Today, 20th March 2014

Review: Reduced Shakespeare Company

With some profound and insightful moments, chaos and order worked in perfect harmony to ensure that the piece was a thrill ride of delightfully awful jokes to keep the audience giggling for days.

Nottingham Post, 20th March 2014

The Pin, Soho Theatre - comedy review

The sketch duo of Alex Owen and Ben Ashenden have lost none of the heady inventiveness that initially got them noticed.

Bruce Dessau, Evening Standard, 20th March 2014

Rosie Wilby is standing up for women

Award-winning comedian Rosie Wilby is as much fun offstage as she is on it, and my chat with her is peppered with outbursts of laughter.

Nicola Lisle, The Oxford Times, 20th March 2014

Corporate video presenters quote Alan Partridge

Fans of Norwich radio legend Alan Partridge will be aware that he is no stranger to presenting corporate videos - but what happens when the corporate video presenters get their hands on Alan Partridge?

Caroline Westbrook, Metro, 20th March 2014

W1A is an almost too-sharp satire of 'brand BBC'

The BBC's new comedy W1A is for anyone who has ever spent a morning wondering how long people can get away with saying the same thing over and over again while drinking Hildon mineral water.

Rachel Cooke, The New Statesman, 20th March 2014

BBC spoofs itself: brave satire or self-indulgence?

W1A doesn't yet have the perfect pitch and pace of its predecessor, but the momentum is gathering.

Holden Frith, The Week, 20th March 2014

Spitting Image: essential satire for a generation

As an Arena documentary about Spitting Image airs on BBC Four, Dominic Cavendish argues that we should be fighting to get the latex puppets back.

Dominic Cavendish, The Telegraph, 20th March 2014

Have you been watching ... Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle?

The casting of Chris Morris in the third series of Comedy Vehicle has made a brilliant show even better. But do you adore or abhor clever clogs comedian Stewart Lee?

Julia Raeside, The Guardian, 20th March 2014

Bluestone 42: New challenges in our second series

I'm the producer of Bluestone 42, a comedy set in Afghanistan, following a bomb disposal detachment. I was incredibly excited to get working on series two, having had such a brilliant time on the first series.

Michelle Farr, BBC Blogs, 20th March 2014

James Corden: BBC Three plans are 'new and exciting'

James Corden has backed plans to make BBC Three an online only channel.

BBC News, 20th March 2014

Comedy of ages: the oldest and youngest stand-ups

As Lynn Ruth Miller brings octogenarian comedy (and incontinence pads) to London's Soho theatre, we take a look across the generations at some of the oldest and youngest comedians to have graced a standup stage.

The Guardian, 20th March 2014

Portsmouth gets world record of longest stand-up gig

More than 60 standups perform 80 hours of comedy at Fratton Park to claim crown from Laugh Factory in Los Angeles.

Nancy Groves, The Guardian, 20th March 2014

Could a show as cutting as Spitting Image be made today

Some people say that Spitting Image wouldn't work today because our politicians are too bland and samey, but I don't think that's true, says producer John Lloyd.

John Lloyd, Radio Times, 20th March 2014

Writing for Radio Comedy

When I mention my background working for Radio Comedy, the most common responses are; "have you worked with anyone good?", "can you get me tickets to The News Quiz?" and finally, "how do you get into comedy writing?"

Frankie Ward, BBC Writersroom, 20th March 2014

W1A review

Senior managers at the BBC gave John Morton carte blanche to mock the organisation. Perhaps they believed this would be a parody of management culture in general. But from the first seconds, W1A signalled its merciless intentions.

Christopher Stevens, Daily Mail, 20th March 2014

W1A review

Like its predecessor, W1A provides a steady source of chuckles without prompting belly laughs.

Gabriel Tate, MSN Entertainment, 20th March 2014

Review - Boothby Graffoe: Scratch!

Boothby Graffoe puts his wallet where his mouth is, while arguing persuasively that the lottery and scratchcards are a pernicious, state-supported mirage that prey on the poorest and most desperate.

Jay Richardson, Chortle, 20th March 2014

Videos

TV & radio

CBBC logo. Credit: BBC 5:15pm
30 min
Roy. Image shows from L to R: Becky (Martha Byrne), Maura (Cathy Belton), Bill (Simon Delaney). Copyright: JAM Media

Roy

Series 3, Episode 9 - Be Careful What You Wish For

Mr Hammond reaches breaking point when Roy sticks a mohawk wig on his head, so he quits the Sandyford Progressive Learning forever. However, his replacement is too PC for Roy and the gang and they end up doing the unthinkable and plotting to get their old vice principal back.

Radio 4 6:30pm
30 min
Jason Cook's School Of Hard Knocks. Jason Cook. Copyright: BBC

Jason Cook's School Of Hard Knocks

Episode 5 - Funerals and Sex Education

Jason looks at the peculiar pressures of fitting in at funerals and how to tackle the tricky task of explaining the bird and the bees.

BBC Four 9pm
60 min
Arena: Whatever Happened To Spitting Image?. Copyright: BBC

Arena: Whatever Happened To Spitting Image?

Documentary celebrating the 30th anniversary of ITV's era-defining satirical puppet-based sketch show Spitting Image.

BBC Three 10pm
30 min
Bluestone 42. Image shows from L to R: Bird (Katie Lyons), Simon (Stephen Wight), Nick (Oliver Chris), Towerblock (Matthew Lewis), Mary (Kelly Adams), Lt Col Smith (Tony Gardner), Faruq (Keeno Lee Hector). Copyright: BBC

Bluestone 42

Series 2, Episode 4

When Mac and Rocket set fire to part of the base, Nick takes the blame and as a punishment has to look after a Government Minister who is visiting the base.

BBC Four 10pm
30 min
The Walshes. Image shows from L to R: Tony (Niall Gaffney), Carmel (Philippa Dunne), Ciara (Amy Stephenson), Rory (Rory Connolly), Graham (Shane Langan). Copyright: Boom Pictures / Delightful Industries

The Walshes

Episode 2 - Family Night

When Graham's landlord kicks him out, Ciara suggests that he move in with her, but his sudden insertion into the house upsets a delicate balance.

ITV2 logo. Credit: ITV 10pm
50 min
Celebrity Juice. Leigh Francis

Celebrity Juice

Series 11, Episode 2

Joining the panel in this episode are singers Paloma Faith and Ronan Keating, reality TV star Mark Wright and actress Martine McCutcheon.

BBC Radio 4 Extra 10:30pm
30 min
Newsjack. Image shows from L to R: Lewis Macleod, Pippa Evans, Romesh Ranganathan, Morgana Robinson. Copyright: BBC

Newsjack

Series 10, Episode 3

This week Romesh Ranganathan and friends mainly ignore the Budget and instead focus on topics include Andy Murray opening a hotel and Keira Knightley praising Gary Neville.

BBC Four 10:30pm
30 min
Some People With Jokes. Copyright: BBC

Some People With Jokes

Series 2, Episode 1 - Some Football Managers With Jokes

The managers of various football teams tell their favourite jokes as part of an episode filmed for Sport Relief.

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